Análise matemática e biológica dos modelos de estimativa de perdas de rendimento na cultura devido à interferência de plantas daninhas.

As plantas daninhas acarretam reduções no rendimento das culturas agrícolas. Os modelos matemáticos de estimativa de perda de rendimento na cultura devido à interferência dessas plantas podem ser instrumentos úteis à tomada de decisão de manejo. Se for possível prever as perdas de rendimento, será possível decidir se é viável ou não a aplicação de uma medida de controle. Há na literatura vários modelos matemáticos empíricos de regressão lineares, não-lineares e polinomiais usados para estimar as perdas de rendimento devido às plantas daninhas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo apresentar uma análise dos modelos matemáticos presentes na literatura utilizados para estimar as perdas de rendimento que as plantas daninhas acarretam à cultura, considerando o ajuste matemático às observações e a descrição biológica do comportamento dessas perdas

Weakly Z symmetric manifolds

We introduce a new kind of Riemannian manifold that includes weakly-, pseudo- and pseudo projective- Ricci symmetric manifolds. The manifold is defined through a generalization of the so called Z tensor; it is named "weakly Z symmetric" and denoted by (WZS)_n. If the Z tensor is singular we give conditions for the existence of a proper concircular vector. For non singular Z tensor, we study the closedness property of the associated covectors and give sufficient conditions for the existence of a proper concircular vector in the conformally harmonic case, and the general form of the Ricci tensor. For conformally flat (WZS)_n manifolds, we derive the local form of the metric tensor.Comment: 13 page

Update of the FANTOM web resource: from mammalian transcriptional landscape to its dynamic regulation

The international Functional Annotation Of the Mammalian Genomes 4 (FANTOM4) research collaboration set out to better understand the transcriptional network that regulates macrophage differentiation and to uncover novel components of the transcriptome employing a series of high-throughput experiments. The primary and unique technique is cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE), sequencing mRNA 5′-ends with a second-generation sequencer to quantify promoter activities even in the absence of gene annotation. Additional genome-wide experiments complement the setup including short RNA sequencing, microarray gene expression profiling on large-scale perturbation experiments and ChIP–chip for epigenetic marks and transcription factors. All the experiments are performed in a differentiation time course of the THP-1 human leukemic cell line. Furthermore, we performed a large-scale mammalian two-hybrid (M2H) assay between transcription factors and monitored their expression profile across human and mouse tissues with qRT-PCR to address combinatorial effects of regulation by transcription factors. These interdependent data have been analyzed individually and in combination with each other and are published in related but distinct papers. We provide all data together with systematic annotation in an integrated view as resource for the scientific community (http://fantom.gsc.riken.jp/4/). Additionally, we assembled a rich set of derived analysis results including published predicted and validated regulatory interactions. Here we introduce the resource and its update after the initial release

Dioctadecyldimethylammonium:monoolein nanocarriers for efficient in vitro gene silencing

This study describes a novel liposomal formulation for siRNA delivery, based on the mixture of the neutral lipid monoolein (MO) and cationic lipids of the dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODA) family. The cationic lipids dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and chloride (DODAC) were compared in order to identify which one will most efficiently induce gene silencing. MO has a fluidizing effect on DODAC and DODAB liposomes, although it was more homogeneously distributed in DODAC bilayers. All MO-based liposomal formulations were able to efficiently encapsulate siRNA. Stable lipoplexes of small size (100-160 nm) with a positive surface charge (>+45 mV) were formed. A more uniform MO incorporation in DODAC:MO may explain an increase of the fusogenic potential of these liposomes. The siRNA-lipoplexes were readily internalized by human nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (H1299) cells, in an energy dependent process. DODAB:MO nanocarriers showed a higher internalization efficiency in comparison to DODAC:MO lipoplexes, and were also more efficient in promoting gene silencing. MO had a similar gene silencing ability as the commonly used helper lipid 1,2-dioleyl-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), but with much lower cytotoxicity. Taking in consideration all the results presented, DODAB:MO liposomes are the most promising tested formulation for systemic siRNA delivery.This work was supported by FEDER through POFC - COMPETE and by national funds from FCT through the projects PEst-C/BIA/UI4050/2011 (CBM.A), PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2011 (CFUM), and PTDC/QUI/69795/2006, while Ana Oliveira holds scholarship SFRH/BD/68588/2010. Eloi Feitosa thanks FAPESP (2011/03566-0) and CNPq (303030/2012-7), and Renata D. Adati thanks FAPESP for scholarship (2011/07414-0). K. Raemdonck is a postdoctoral fellow of the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen). We acknowledge NanoDelivery-I&D em Bionanotecnologia, Lda. for access to their equipment

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

An assessment of the risk of Bt-cowpea to non-target organisms in West Africa

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) is the most economically important legume crop in arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Cowpea is grown primarily by subsistence farmers who consume the leaves, pods and grain on farm or sell grain in local markets. Processed cowpea foods such as akara (a deep-fat fried fritter) are popular in the rapidly expanding urban areas. Demand far exceeds production due, in part, to a variety of insect pests including, in particular, the lepidopteran legume pod borer (LPB) Maruca vitrata. Genetically engineered Bt-cowpea, based on cry1Ab (Event 709) and cry2Ab transgenes, is being developed for use in sub-Saharan Africa to address losses from the LBP. Before environmental release of transgenic cowpeas, the Bt Cry proteins they express need to be assessed for potential effects on non-target organisms, particularly arthropods. Presented here is an assessment of the potential effects of those Cry proteins expressed in cowpea for control of LPB. Based on the history of safe use of Bt proteins, as well as the fauna associated with cultivated and wild cowpea in sub-Saharan Africa results indicate negligible effects on non-target organisms

Resultados do controle de qualidade de produtos hemoderivados: análise sanitária Results of quality control of plasma derivatives products: sanitary analysis

O Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde - INCQS, unidade técnico-científica da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, desempenha seu papel no controle de qualidade pericial, de bens e serviços sujeitos ao regime de Vigilância Sanitária, em particular medicamentos denominados de hemoderivados. Este trabalho fundamentou-se na análise de 3.100 lotes de hemoderivados, no período de janeiro de 2000 a dezembro de 2004, assim distribuídos: 31,6% (n=980) de albumina humana, 28,7% (n=890) de fator VIII, 21,4% (n=662) de imunoglobulina humana, 8,3% (n=257) de fator IX, 7,1% (n=220) de imunoglobulinas específicas como anti-Rho (D), antitetânica, anti-rábica, anti-Hepatite B e antivaricela zoster e 2,9% (n=91) de complexo protrombínico. As amostras foram recebidas para análise oriundas dos segmentos: portos, aeroportos e fronteiras de Brasília, Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo e de apreensões realizadas pelos estados de Pernambuco, Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro e Rio Grande do Sul. Quanto à modalidade de análise: 92,3% correspondem à análise controle, 5,9% fiscal, 1,4% orientação e 0,4% análise prévia. Da internalização dos hemoderivados importados: 40,0% ocorreram pelo aeroporto de Brasília, 26,9% por São Paulo e 25,2% pelo Rio de Janeiro. Concluindo, dos lotes de hemoderivados analisados, 99,1% apresentaram resultados satisfatórios e 0,9% foram insatisfatórios quanto ao ensaio de inspeção visual, solubilidade, ensaio de estabilidade e químico, e quanto ao teste de pirogênio e toxicidade inespecífica. Desta forma, monitorar a qualidade dos produtos hemoderivados é um instrumento fundamental no exercício das ações de Vigilância Sanitária.The technical scientific unit of the National Institute of Quality Control in Health (INCQS), part of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, has a role of investigational quality control of products and services related to health surveillance, in particular medicines denominated plasma derivative products. This paper is based on the analysis of the 3100 plasma derivative products from January 2000 to December 2004: 31.6% (n=980) of human albumin, 28.7% (n=890) of factor VIII, 21.4% (n=662) of human immunoglobulins, 8.3% (n=257) of factor IX, 7.1% (n=22) of specific immunoglobulin classes containing anti-Rho (D) immunoglobulin, anti-hepatitis B, anti-tetanus, anti-rabies and anti-varicella-zoster and 2.91% (n=91) of prothrombin complex. The products submitted to analysis came from airports and frontiers of Brasília, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and products confiscated by the states of Pernambuco, Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul. The type of analysis was characterized as: 92.3% control analysis; 5.9% fiscal analysis; 1.4% guidance and 0.4% preliminary analysis. In respect to imported plasma derivatives, 40.0% originated from the airport in Brasilia, 26.9% in São Paulo and 25.2% in Rio de Janeiro. In conclusion, 99.1% of the plasma derivative products analyzed was considered satisfactory and 0.9% unsatisfactory as identified by visual inspection, solubility, stability and chemical assays and pyrogenic and unspecific toxicity tests. Thus, the assessment of the quality of plasma derivative products is an essential tool for health surveillance